As summer break is coming to an end, school is approaching fast. We can all agree that a vacation was much needed after the surprisingly fast-paced school year that just passed, and I think that this year's break was neither too short nor too long. It's pretty common for us all to just tell our friends how much we're dreading school coming so quickly, so how do these following 11 people feel? Here are their thoughts and reactions to the 2017- 2018 school year.

1. It's an opportunity to change, but it may have difficult courses.

"I'm pretty excited but at the same time anxious. I love the back-to-school season because it's a time when you can totally transform yourself, whether it be your fashion style, friend group, etc. Meeting new or exchange students is always super fun too! I'm just nervous that my classes are going to be difficult, and I really hope I don't develop bad study habits."

2. It marks a year with new classes that may be scary.

"I'm so anxious about school starting because I'm taking my first AP class as well as a ton of extracurricular activities, and I feel so unprepared."

3. It means seeing old faces, but it also means a lot of stress.

One sophomore mentioned, "I feel really excited to see my friends, and I want to get the year over with. But I'm also sad, because I know my mental illnesses will definitely start to act up again because of all the stress I'll be under with work, school and marching band."

4. There will be a lot of work, but that's part of being a student.

"Sometimes the workload gets to be too much, and it's physically and mentally tiring to bring myself to start and finish an assignment. But overall, I really enjoy school. I'm really thankful for the people I'm surrounded by, because I've been able to make some incredible friends. Though it's hard to stay positive about school sometimes, I'm grateful for my education. As students, our only job is to learn, and it's such a privilege!"

5. Studying is the key to finishing this year.

"Honestly, I'm a bit stressed because of summer work, but I'm excited to see my friends again. I think if I just study hard this year then I'll be in a good position."

6. The amount of work already is worrying.

"Seeing the amount of work we've had to do in preparation for the school year (summer work) stresses me out so much. I had an entire summer to do these assignments, and I'm still barely going to finish them. I'm scared of what is going to happen when I have to do this kind of work within a day or a week," said a 10th grader just returning from vaca.

7. It means time for a new beginning.

"Part of me is looking forward to [the upcoming school year] because it's a fresh, new start, but I also am dreading the homework and all the stress that comes with it."

8. It's an exciting time to get back into the swing of things.

"I'm actually pretty happy with school starting up again, and I'm excited to see people that I don't see often. But the work is building up, so I'm a little scared about that but overall happy!"

9. It's a bit bothersome to have to wake up so early.

"I'm excited for the school year to start because I like seeing all of my friends again and meeting new people as well!" a student exclaimed. "On the other hand, I'm not excited at the same time, because I do not want to wake up early every day and sit in six different classes for about an hour each."

10. Another year means new classes to see and new teachers to meet.

One middle schooler pointed out, "I feel like the new year is going to be fun because you can meet up with your friends and talk about what you did over the summer. I'm not really worried about anything this year, but I'm planning on making a lot more new friends when school starts again. I'm really excited about seeing my new classes and teachers!"

11. Sleep is a precious thing that will be taken away.

"I feel extremely conflicted about the new school year coming up. I am excited that I am going to be able to see my friends that I generally do not hang out with outside of school, but I am dreading having to wake up at 7 am and start learning when my brain hasn't even woken up yet. The only thing I am looking forward to in the upcoming school year is my extracurricular activities and elective classes. The thing I'm not looking forward to is, of course, trying to balance my social life along with staying on track with my assignments."

This upcoming year will definitely bring new memories and experiences, and I hope that workload and waking up early don't ruin seeing friends every day and having fun. Whether you might be starting middle school or finishing high school, make sure you have a good time balancing your personal life with your work! Happy 2017-2018 school year!